The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-04-20
TESTS OF A NEW REMEDY
Partially Successful Experiments with
the Consumption Cure in This City.
DR.. Maxwell Gives the County Medical Society
an Interesting Account of His Experience
with the Treatment Tests.

paper read before the Marion County Medical
Society last evening, by DR.. Allison Maxwell
who has been making study of the new con-
sumption cure ''The history Of this treatment
of pulmonary Diseases" said DR.. Maxwell,
:.shows that Claude Bernard. who first expert
mented in 1857, presented his results to the
Academy of Sciences at Paris but his profess
sional brethren did not take up with the treat
ment Within the last three or four years DR..
Bergeon, of Lyons France, and his assistant.
DR.. Morel after experimenting on animals.
began to treat patients. They have continued
the treatment up to this time, claiming that they
have entirely cured some of their over two hun
dred patients, that some who were laboring
men have gone back to hard work, and have
relieved the more distressing symptoms of the
incurable. In this country the treatment was
first tried in the Philadelphia Hospital about
the middle of February of this year by Dr..
Mclaughlin. the resident physician-in-ch chief
Having read of the treatment, DR.. Maxwell
said he went to Philadelphia and witnessed the
cases which have been under treatment from
four to six weeks. He examined the patients
and saw that they had cavities in their lungs
and other evidences of broken-down lung tissue.
He questioned them in regard to their appetite,
the presence or absence of fever, cough and ex-
pectoration, and found that they had all been
benefited in some or all of these symptoms. The
solution of sulphurous water used at the hos
pital consisted of the sulphide of sodium and
chloride of sodium, each five grains in twenty
four ounces of water. Through this solution
carbonic acid gas was pumped. driving off from
the sulphurous water sulphuretted hydrogen gas
through the tube into the intestines, the car
bonic acid gas being vehicle as we'll as an
anodyne. They had tried in the hospital a So
ton Of sulphurous water with ten grains of each
of the two chlorides to twenty-four ounces of
water, but the physicians inclined to think
the FIVE grain solution was preferable, and con-
tinued its use. There were series OF twenty
one cases, which have been under treatment
since the latter part of February. and had all
gained in weight from three to thirteen and
half pounds, and had all retained the gain ex-
cept one He lost the three pounds he had
gained, thought the treatment was the cause of
the loss and refused further treatment. Uni
fornly in these cases the nightsweats were
controlled, the cough and expectoratlon largely
relieved. the tongue cleaned of, the appetite
returned, the temperature became normal, or II
not normal was OF a lower grade. and the pulse
and respiration became less broken. although
respiration more frequent Immediately
after treatment, due to the pressure OF the gas
up against the diaphragm and the lungs. In
case where darrhoea was troublesome
symptom the enemata seemed to control 1t.
At the College of Physicians medical socl-
ETY. of Philadelphia, on the first Wednesday
evening in April. Dr. J. Soliscohen presented the
society two forms of apparatus to be used in
this treatment, and recommended it very highly
He said he had used it with number of private
patients, with encouraging results, and that
Bergeon had claimed to cure not only pulmonary
LESSONS, but pharyngeal and laryngeal tubercu-
lose alterations Also without any topical applica-
ton whatever, simply from the contact in its
elimination from the lungs The dangers from
this manner of treatment are slight it the rem
edy is administered. DR.. Osler, of the Pennsyl-
vania University Hospital, in his remarks be-
fore the College of Physicians, related one case
in which he had serious symptoms of asphyxla.
not from the poison effects of the gas tn, on
account of the large quantity crowding the in
testines up against the diaphragm and lungs, in
terfering with respiration. Dr. Horatlo Wood,
in his remarks before the society. said that Ber-
geon preferred to use natural sulphurous or min
eral water, but he tWood) thought the artificial
was as good and probably better than the nat
ural.
Dr. Maxwell said that since his return from
Philadelphia he had been using apparatus
procured of Queen & Co.. and had four patients
under treatment. but had not used it long enough
| to give any special results-only week-except
to say that two patients have gained in strength,
| their tongues have cleaned off, and both have
| excellent appetites and increase in weight.
| In one the temperature has dropped from 10l to
| SO and remains at that, while she is able 10
| walk three squares, whereas she had not before
| walked one square for two months. Her night
| sweats, which very troublesome. have
| about disappeared, and her mother says she
| does not cough and expectorate more than half
| what she had been doing. The Doctor, In con-
| cluson, said these were results to be thankful
for, if no more was accomplished. and added that
| no one should be too sangune about the new
| treatment, which may not control all the bad
| symptoms and may sometimes even entirely fail
to do good.
| An interesting discussion followed, which was
participated in by Drs. Harvey. Brayton Hurry,
Wooden. Henthorne. Waterman, Morgan.
Thompson. Todd, WOODBURY. Ferguson, East
| man and others. Drs. Elder and Henthorne
made reports of cases treated. Dr. Elder said
that two weeks ago he had placed patient on
! the use of sulphuretted hydrogen gas at the pa
TENTS own suggestion. This patient has been a
| sufferer since the war, having acquired pneu-
| monia after an escape from Libby prison. by
| lying in hiding in the swamps for two months.
| and tuberculosis had followed He originally
weighed $50 pounds. hut had down to Ito
pounds He had a cavity in the left lung, and
his temperature for four years had been over
101-103 and 1904 at times He had complete
loss of appetite, was unable to walk. and had
| d;arrhaa with incessant cough. The first in
lection was given him two weeks ago-the first
week once day and after that twice a day. His
| temperature is now IUU ana pulse llU. lie eats
first rate, and is sitting up. For the first
| time in four years he is able
to rest at night, and has taken no opium or qui-
nine nothing except this treatment A second
case is that of lady suffering from acute pull
| monary tuberculosis. In her case the treatment
has been for too short time 20 predicate any
! results In the case of the former patient,
| however where it seems like madness to expect
he should get well. there is some encourage
! menr There has been no diarrhoea since this
| treatment began The gases mixed In the rub
Der bag are preferred by the patient and he is
| now able to use it himself. The gas should be
| administered rather slowly and the abdomen
should be kneaded. This patient has never
tasted the gas after administration in less than
an hour 1t relieves his cough DR.. Elder did
not believe it a panacea, but said he merely
stated facts.
Dr. Henthorne said patient, upon whom he
is using the treatment, is married woman. who
has been troubled since last spring. He did no,
see her as patient until FIVE or six weeks ago
Since that time her temperature has run most oil
the time 1921. sometimes low as 10l1. and
pulse 100 to $50. but when sitting quiet about
l4O She had emaciated rapidly, and during
the last two or three weeks had been subject tt
diarrhoea The new treatment was begun
week ago Sunday. rather against the wishes o.
the patient, so that the improvement that fol
lowed was not from her predisposition desire
to feel better. There change from tn,
very first administration in the appetite, ant
there has been strong appetite ever since Sh'